Jumping into digital divide could be risky

Published: Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at 12:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, March 25, 2013 at 3:08 p.m.

The recent bills signed by Gov. Pat McCrory, concerning a shift in funding to digital textbooks and other instructional materials across the state by 2017, is a move into uncharted territory and perhaps a bit risky.

It may even be considered throwing money into technology just because it is there and seems to be the cutting edge thing to do.

Most students are capable of learning with the use of old-fashioned hardbacks and paper pages, even though it seems a little 2005.

The danger with this version of technology is already the younger generation assumes whatever can be pulled up on a computer screen is the gospel truth. That is, all the secrets of life can be found with a Google search, and the most efficient way to learn about current events is by looking at one's Facebook page.

A companion measure to the recent public education-focused bills, also signed by the governor, is one that orders the State Board of Education to put digital training into teacher licensure standards and to require similar competency for school administrators.

This seems to be a superfluous exercise, but there is one overriding plus. If they have any questions, all they need do is ask their students.

When we look at the costs of digital textbooks, for example, this ilk of spending is juxtaposed against budget cuts that are projected to eliminate teacher assistants. It's not just the initial costs that are perplexing. How many of these gadgets will be dropped, broken and need to be replaced within weeks after they arrive? Many of us can recall the simple fixes with textbooks. A little Scotch tape, and they were good to go.

If we took a poll of teachers and asked them which they perceive to be more important, digital textbooks or teaching assistants, we think we know the answer.

No doubt, digital technology has become a primary form of information delivery, but its prevalence and effects need to be examined prior to it becoming a staple of our public education system.

Only in the past few years have communication scholars begun to research the wide-ranging consequences of current technology. The results are inconclusive.

It is not wise to jump into a sea of vapor until knowing how to navigate the unknown perils. This is not to say we should dismiss the development of new delivery methods in an age of abundant technology.

To this day, though, the famous quote by Thomas Edison more than 100 years ago has stood the test of time. "Vision without execution is hallucination."

<p>The recent bills signed by Gov. Pat McCrory, concerning a shift in funding to digital textbooks and other instructional materials across the state by 2017, is a move into uncharted territory and perhaps a bit risky.</p><p>It may even be considered throwing money into technology just because it is there and seems to be the cutting edge thing to do.</p><p>Most students are capable of learning with the use of old-fashioned hardbacks and paper pages, even though it seems a little 2005.</p><p>The danger with this version of technology is already the younger generation assumes whatever can be pulled up on a computer screen is the gospel truth. That is, all the secrets of life can be found with a Google search, and the most efficient way to learn about current events is by looking at one's Facebook page.</p><p>A companion measure to the recent public education-focused bills, also signed by the governor, is one that orders the State Board of Education to put digital training into teacher licensure standards and to require similar competency for school administrators.</p><p>This seems to be a superfluous exercise, but there is one overriding plus. If they have any questions, all they need do is ask their students.</p><p>When we look at the costs of digital textbooks, for example, this ilk of spending is juxtaposed against budget cuts that are projected to eliminate teacher assistants. It's not just the initial costs that are perplexing. How many of these gadgets will be dropped, broken and need to be replaced within weeks after they arrive? Many of us can recall the simple fixes with textbooks. A little Scotch tape, and they were good to go.</p><p>If we took a poll of teachers and asked them which they perceive to be more important, digital textbooks or teaching assistants, we think we know the answer.</p><p>No doubt, digital technology has become a primary form of information delivery, but its prevalence and effects need to be examined prior to it becoming a staple of our public education system.</p><p>Only in the past few years have communication scholars begun to research the wide-ranging consequences of current technology. The results are inconclusive.</p><p>It is not wise to jump into a sea of vapor until knowing how to navigate the unknown perils. This is not to say we should dismiss the development of new delivery methods in an age of abundant technology.</p><p>To this day, though, the famous quote by Thomas Edison more than 100 years ago has stood the test of time. "Vision without execution is hallucination."</p>